Acid Reflux

• Acid reflux occurs when a muscular deficiency in the lower esophagus causes the natural barrier between the esophagus and the stomach to be compromised, allowing stomach acids to rise. This causes some discomfort.
  
  

Causes

• Acid reflux is caused by a deficiency with the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), but other factors can cause or aggravate the problem. Those factors include stress, overeating, hormonal fluctuations, eating a lot of fatty foods, some medicines, smoking, drinking alcohol or drinking a lot of carbonated drinks.
  
  

Symptoms

• The most common symptom of acid reflux is heartburn, but other symptoms can include chest pain, sore throat, a dry cough, bad breath, a bitter taste in the mouth and breathing problems.
  
  

Fennel

• Fennel seed has been shown to be a powerful natural remedy for acid reflux. Fennel contains a substance called anethole, which helps to calm spasms in the digestive tract. Fennel seed can be purchased from a health food or natural food store and can be eaten alone or mixed into food. It can also be taken as a tea.
  
  

Other Natural Remedies

• Other substances that have been shown to alleviate acid reflux symptoms include chamomile, catnip, ginger, anise, lavender and apple cider vinegar. Always speak with your doctor before adding an herbal supplement to your regimen.